Ralph Wilbur Hardesty, Sr.

Services will be held at a later date.

Ralph W. Hardesty Sr., aged 78, died peacefully March 24, 2020 due to pre-existing health conditions. Ralph was born March 21, 1942 in Prince George’s County, Maryland, the son of Benjamin Hardesty and Mary Pauline Seay Hardesty.

Ralph was known as a “Hell Raiser”! In his younger days he loved to drink whiskey, street race hot rods & was always up for a good fight!

He grew up on a farm with his ten siblings including Dick, Audrey, Ernest, Irvin, Carroll, Benjamin (Bucky), Geraldine, Barbara, Annie & Mary planting gardens, taking care of the animals & going to church every Sunday.

He quit school in the 8^th grade; at 21 he married the love of his life, Ida (Marie) Mayhew, September 17, 1963 in Davidsonville Maryland. Together they raised three sons, Ralph Jr., Clarence (Skull) and Michael. When they weren’t busting their butts on the farm they all loved participating in tractor pulling events, riding dirt bikes/three wheelers & hot, lazy days floating on tractor tubes in the pond!

He was an auto mechanic, heavy equipment operator/foreman, tobacco share cropper & a small engine mechanic. He was self-taught & could fix pretty much anything!

He loved telling stories of all his escapades (which got more exciting every time he told them), growing a garden (that he shared with everyone), fishing, tinkering with lawn mowers but most of all running the roads to visit all his family & friends!

Ralph is survived by his youngest sister, Mary Sanders; sons Ralph Hardesty Jr. and his wife Leslie, Clarence (Skull) Hardesty and his wife Heidi; grandchildren Krystle Harrington, Britni Hardesty, Hailey Hardesty, Michael A. Hardesty and Michael J. Hardesty; great grand-children Brennan Harrington, Mason Hardesty, Ainsley Hardesty, Dylan Hardesty, Jaxon Hardesty and several, nieces and nephews.

Despite his rough & tuff personality,   Ralph’s big heart and generosity shined through. He was loved by so many & will be truly missed.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at a later date.